I Know It's Been A While...

Things have been moving right along at the Bowman house, with many new and exciting things happening. I will begin by talking about Pearl, as this IS a blog about her...

Since the last time I wrote here Pearl has turned 2, begun putting small sentences together, and uses her potty more and more. Last month she said "I love you Daddy" for the first time, and of course, that gave me some tears. She is certainly turning into am individual, and I couldn't be more excited to see more.

I will try to be more diligent about publishing posts to the blog, as Pearl changes just a little bit every day...

August 4, 2009

Pearl will be 2 in just over a month, time sure does have a way of getting away from you. It's pretty neat though to watch her develop a personality all her own, quirky as it may be. I guess we are all a little quirky in some way, and that's a good thing.

We all went to Seaworld a couple of weeks ago, Pearl had a grand time, and I admit that I thought it was pretty swell too. Aside from the heat and rude people, it was a rather enjoyable day, must remember to NOT go to theme parks in July!!! The best part, I think, was watching Pearl's reactions to the animals. Her eyes get big and she lets out an enthusiastic "oooh" or "wow", most of the time both together. She doesn't like being told "no", so she got a little grumpy a couple of times during the day. When I see other children Pearl's age acting 10 times worse, I am grateful that she is not like that. We paid the 10 dollars extra so that we can go back anytime we want until the end of the year. However, I think we will wait until it cools down a little bit before we attempt another day there.


 **More photos can me found HERE!!!**

I have been kind of busy with school the past few weeks and have neglected one of my favorite things: Daddy/Daughter Day. Not only did I feel bad for not spending quality time with that amazing little girl, I also felt like a bad husband for noticing that Kim needed a "Pearl Break" and then waiting so long to do something about it. Last Wednesday I finally scooped Pearl up and loaded her in the car and took of for the day. We headed to the mall first so I could get some new shorts and things that I needed, and we had some lunch there. After that we hopped back in the car to go somewhere, though I had no idea where, so I just started driving. We ended up out on Merritt Island at the "wildlife drive" so that I could play with my new camera. We spent a while out there, got out of the car and ran around and explored together. Exploring with Pearl is something that I am going to get quite fond of I think, especially with all the wonderfully enthusiastic "ooh"s and "wow"s she delivers when she's excited. We left there after sunset and drove back home, pooped out Pearl slept most of the way home. Then, on Sunday we went over there again because I thought there was going to be a good sunset and wanted to take some pictures. Also, I wanted to take my new car out for a little drive. It ended up being a poor sunset due to a thunderstorm in the way, but I did get some good shots of clouds.


**More photos can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE!!!**

Kim and I were both able to get new cars, this is a wonderful thing as we have been sharing 1 car between 3 people for the last couple of years. I got a 2010 Mustang GT Convertible, which is just an awesome car to drive around. Kim got a 2009 Ford Flex, a funky looking car with a lot of interior room (it kind of reminds me of a "Woody"). So needless to say there has been some excitement around the Bowman house...


**More Photos can be found HERE, and HERE!!!**

July 16, 2009

So, it's been a long time since my last post, certainly you have all been wondering what's been going on in the Bowman house. Certainly, some of you may not make it through the day without some words about the magnificent Pearl. Well, be still, here is a new installment a mere 3 months since the last post. I can tell you that it has been quite a busy 3 months, a lot has happened.

We'll begin today with the news of Pearl's pool she got when we returned home from our trip to Key Largo. Kim had talked about getting Pearl a pool when she dropped me off at work because she needed the car. I returned home from work that night and I was greeted by a brand new shiny pool for Pearl to go swimming in the back yard. It has a deep end and a shallow end, a dolphin slide, palm trees, and another dolphin that sprays water into the "deep end". Pearl loves her pool very much, except that pesky dolphin that sprays water on her, she doesn't know what to make of that.

Pearl, has grown up a lot since we went to Key Largo, she's taller and more teeth have come in. She has an ever growing vocabulary, it seems anytime now she will begin to communicate with words rather than whining and pointing (please be soon!!!). She is definitely showing us that she is developing her own distinct personality, a very kooky one at the moment. I suspect though, most kids her age are quite kooky, still unaware of what's around them and exploring their surroundings.

Pearl's Opa died in April, he was my father-in-law. Pearl and I never got to meet him, but I know he was a good man and loved Pearl very much. We heard from his Sister and Brother-in-law that he bragged about his granddaughter all the time. He had been living for a long time as a quadriplegic since he had a series of strokes when he was younger. RIP Andries Sjoerd van der Meulen (Feb 26, 1940-Apr 13, 2009)...

I started EMT training May 11, we are now 5 weeks from graduating. I have been learning a lot of really cool shit. I can't wait to start Paramedic school, just think of all the cool shit to learn there!!!

Key Largo 2009

It has certainly been a busy few days for little Miss Pearl, swimming, exploring, and digging in the sand, along with hanging out with Nana and Bumpa. We are in Key Largo at Sunset Cove Resort, the same place we came last year around the same time. It's amazing to think of all the changes Pearl has made in the past year, last time we were here she was a 6 month old blob trhat really didn't do much. This year she is a 1 1/2 year old toddler that runs around everywhere, likes to play in the water, and explores her surroundings. If this turns out to be a yearly event, which Kim and I think would be a pretty swell idea, she could be snorkling next year (she'll be 2 1/2, wow). I really can't think of a better place to make an annual trek with Pearl, she may even start to look forward to coming down here. Kim and I went to get key lime pie today for dessert after our dinner of grilled NY Strip Steak, Yellowfin Tuna, and Shrimps. While we were driving there was even talk of the possiblilty that we would move down here after I complete my EMT training, I was accepted into the program (more about that later). If we move here we would have to find another place for our yearly vacation tradition, may be back up to Orlando to go to Disney.

Nana and Bumpa arrived on Friday of last week, and actually spent 2 nights in the hotel that I work in (but not for, long story). Pearl was a little shy at first, but I think she remembered who they were and warmed up tp them quite quickly. Now they are all like peas in a pod, hanging out and exploring together. It's really great that they were able to come down here for a visit, I wish they lived closer so they could see Pearl more often. Webcam is really no substitute for hanging out and being with their grand-daughter, though it is a nice thing to have (sort-of a second best thing). Pearl does have her Mimsy around all the time, but having her Bumpa and Nana around as much would be a very keen thing for her to have. I know I say that quite a bit, especially when they are here.
When they are here I am reminded of the fact that they get to spend such little time with each other and it makes me a little sad. I have pretty cool parents and they should be able to spend a lot more time with my little munchkin. I mean they don't have to live next door or even down the street, but it would be nice if they were in the same state at least. I think that once I finish EMT training it will be time to seriously think about moving either to the Keys (if we want to stay in Florida) or somwhere closer to where Nana and Bumpa decide they would like to move (they want to get out of where they live too).

Key Largo has been very nice so far, and the weather has been perfect. Yesterday we didn't do much besides swim, we get to swim literally 20 feet from the front door of our room, that's very swell I think. I snorkeled around a little bit and Pearl floated in her little boat. Bumpa went and spent the day out in the ocean snorkeling by the reefs, so it was just Kim, Pearl, Nana, and I hanging around the Sunset Cove. We went to dinner right next door at this little Italian place with one of the biggest menus I have ever seen, there specials menu was a separate and full menu in itself. The food was good though, other than the piece of calamari I ate that was not so good. Today we got up a little earlier (Kim, Pearl, and I. Nana and Bumpa were already up and had breakfast) and went to this place where they take in hurt birds and either fix them up and release them or, if they are too badly hurt, take care of them for good. Pearl seemed to enjoy seeing all the birds, it was pretty cool there aside from the horrid smell emanating from the habitats or the surrounding wetland area. There were pelicans hanging out on the boardwalk, I think Pearl was really into seeing those guys up close. Pearl liked the Parrots too,

she kept pointing at them and saying "oooh" and "kack kack" because that's what ducks say and all birds are ducks still. We left there and came back to the room to cool off a little bit, it was quite warm out there in the sun Pearl's cheeks got all rosy. Then we headed over to the state park to swim on the ocean side of the key, it ended up not being the open ocean after all but fun anyway, to go swimming over there. I did a little snorkeling but there was not much too see, mostly algae covered plants and a few fish, not very exciting. Pearl did her first dunk in salt water, I don't think she minded that at all though she did cling on to me quite strong. We stayed in the water for quite a while there just hanging out with Bumpa, Nana stayed up on the shore most of the time.

For dinner we stopped at Publix and got some NY Strip Steaks and some charcoal so we could grill out back here at the Sunset Cove (there are a bunch of grills here). We got back to the room and I at the fried chicken I got so I could have a little lunch, being diabetic and all. Then Pearl and I took a nap together for a couple of hours while Kim laid in the hammock and read her book. Peal and I got up and went outside and explored together for a few minutes, a little Daddy/Daughter time, and then went to find Mommy. Kim and I decided that we needed to go gat some key lime pie for dessert, so we left Pearl with Nana and Bumpa and went down the road. We came back with key lime pie, yellowfin tuna, shrimps and 2 presents for Pearl. She got a stuffed pelican from Mommy and I got her a cool looking shell.

I think the plan for tomorrow is to be lazy all day, drink some beer, do some swimming, and then drive home at about 10pm...

March 19, 2009

Got up today and grabbed Pearl for a Daddy/Daughter day, got the munchkin without even the slightest movement from Kim. I was a sneaky toddler theif, got her out of the house without waking the Mommy. I bet it was nice to wake up and have no diaper to change or crying little monster to feed first thing. I got up and packed a few things in the car:
diaper bag, cooler with juice, yogurt, and cereal bars, towels, water shoes, Pearl's floaty, sunblock, and the camera to record the day's adventures. After the car was packed I got the kid and changed her very full diaper and put her in her going out clothes and tossed her in the car with all the other stuff. Then it was off to Wekiva Springs for our Daddy/Daughter day,with swimming and other assorted  activities.
I put Pearl in her new bathing suit for the drive to Wekiva, not just because she looked super adorable in it but also so there was less changing to do once we were there. Changing Pearl in the hot sun while a nice refreshing dip in the cool water was taunting us didn't sound like too much fun at all. With her new pink one peice all I had
to do was take off her shorts and shoes and we could get in the water. The water was very crisp, and Pearl really didn't like it at first, and to be honest I didn't either, but I knew once we got used to it we'd be just fine. She would not let me put her into her boat right away, she clung to me for
dear life. Once she got used to the water a little bit floating in her boat was just fine. Simply floating turned into splashing and playing in no time, I had a very happy smiling little girl. We swam, or I should say "I swam, and she floated", for about 20 minutes, even getting our heads wet at one point. I looked over at Pearl
and the poor little girl was just shivvering away, teeth clattering and everything, and she looked at me and gave me this sort of half smile. I knew it was time to exit the spring, go dry off and walk around for a while. We got Pearl out of her wet swim clothes and back into her shorts
and t-shirt, and put all the stuff back on the stroller and headed back up to the car. We decided that we would drive down to the playground because we really weren't ready to leave yet. Pearl got to ride in the front seat through the parking lot, she really didn't know what to make of that. I think if she were able to see
out the front window it would have been more exciting for her, she is just to short to fully enjoy the front seat. We parked the car and walked the path to the playground, Pearl was instantly everywhere all at once it seemed. She was like a little miniature tornado on that playground,
she even climbed up on the equipment and played on that. She went swinging on the swings and even got in the "big kid" swing all by herself wanting to swing on that one. I decided that we would swing together on that one, and put her in the "little kid" swing for er solo swing. From the bench on the side
of the playground I could see all nooks and crannies, so I sat there and let her explore all on her own. Every once and a while she would look over at me to make sure I was still there and proceed to wander around and discover new things. Each look back to me had a longer interval between the glances,
as if she just new I would be there when she looked again, and each look was accompanied by a little smile. She climbed up on the main apparatus of the playground a second time, this time ascending all the way to the top where the big slide starts it's journey to the ground. I was sitting at the bottom of the slide taking pictures
of Pearl playing at the top, and suddenly she just went to the summit of the slide and let go, she slid all the way down to me. I had no idea that she would slide all by herself, we had slid together earlier when we first arrived to the playground. I was in shock, and so very proud of my brave little monkey. I was caught completely of guard and did not capture the slide on camera, so I placed her back at the top with the hopes that she would repeat her act of bravery, and she did just that!

After all the climbing, swinging, and to my pleasant suprise sliding we decided to return to the car to get ready to leave and go home. We had a little snack in the car before we headed out, and as we were leaving I decided to drive around and explore a little bit.
Pearl was out for the count before we even got over to the campground, only about 4 minutes from the springs. She slept almost the whole way home, waking up when we arrived at Walmart to get dinner. Pork loin stuffed with sausage and wrapped with bacon, with mashetopatoes and green beans...

The End

Later in the evening after a bath and being put into her PJ's Pearl decided to put a pair of shorts on over her jammies. Then she wanted her frog slippers on, and the pink "Disney Flair" sash around her shoulder. The result, and I think you will all agree, was too cute NOT to take a picture or 2...